The unfortunate lack of a "RP server" and what will be done about it?

Isidor

I haven't quite figured out what the proper forum section for this would be, but this seemed to be the closest fit.

Weren't we supposed to get to answer a bunch of questions that would help the mega server tech place us with "likeminded" players? I'm starting to get quite tired of seeing all the stupid character names not even trying to be lore friendly, characters running around in nothing but their undies and, I know this is a pet peeve for many, players moving about with constant jumping...

This was something I was worried about during pre-launch but I was calmed by the info that we would get to answer those questions that would place us with "likeminded". But all info I can find now is that it's only our guild(s) and friends lists that matters for where the mega server tech places us.

Did that idea with the questions get scrapped? Will anything be done for RP-ers and lore faithfuls to reduce their exposure of players who don't give a guar's dropping about lore?

Ragnar_Lodbrok

90% of games have no RP servers. The 10% that did have since closed them. Yes lets make individual dead servers to appease a small population.

Vikova

There is a fiction and roleplaying section of the forums.

pysgod1978b14_ESO

Work around it. Role players on EvE manage it.

Thesiren

RP servers seldom if ever have a large RP population. I know because I've tried practically all of them in just about every MMO out there. About the most RPing I ever saw was on a regular server in City of Heroes-- Virtue server.

You'll notice there's no open PvP server, either-- just Cyrodiil that you zone into, period. There are inns that some people like to RP in. We all have to make do I guess. But trying to control the entire world around you is futile and silly; you don't own the game nor do you pay others' subs. It's not up to you to determine what other people name their characters. If it bothers you that much, play Skyrim. Nobody's name is out of place there.

Vikova

Also, the multiple guild aspect will help. Instead of joining one roleplaying guild and being screwed if people aren't online, you can join several and hedge your bets.

Also, people have created a very large OOC roleplaying guild to chat and meet other roleplayers.

Lazarus_Long

While am only a light RPer on my best day, I do get annoyed sometimes with that goes on in game chat. So I set a few tabs on my chat window using the options and POOF! I have a tab I can select that has only Zone chat, another that has only group chat, another for my PvP guilds and group , and finally one for my PvE guilds and group.

As far as not seeing the other people in game, just tell yourself that they have been blessed by Sheogorath and who are you to deny the Mad God his fun?

Also, submit /feedback in game! ZOS pays people to read it, sort it, and count how many times they get the same request.

MercyKilling

Oh dear god, Laz. Your signature. I'm laughing so hard.

The funny thing is I'd type something similar into zone chat, except using the actual lyrics for the song...just leading in with "Heeeeey, jute.

byghostlightrwb17_ESO

I wish there was a phase on the servers for roleplayers, that normally means more grown up conversations, no chats full of real world racism and sexism as I keep seeing this week. Just a lot of creative people having a good laugh and enjoying the world of ES. I wish.

MercyKilling

To the best of my knowledge, that's kinda the way the megaserver works. It'll place you by guild first, then friends list, then randomly.
However, due to my refusal to join a guild for -any- reason, I'm stuck with just my friends list. (Which is really small right now).

Rastafariel

Anyone looking for a laid back medium RP guild should try Dragon Tears. Friend @Rastafariel, @Tarie or @Nytlite for details or check us out on the RP guild forums of this website.

Dovel

Ragnar_Lodbrok wrote: »

90% of games have no RP servers. The 10% that did have since closed them. Yes lets make individual dead servers to appease a small population.

This is your first MMO I see. lol

eNumbra

You could always imagine that Sheogorath has kidnapped you and trapped you in a parallel Tamriel for his own amusement.

kijima

eNumbra wrote: »

You could always imagine that Sheogorath has kidnapped you and trapped you in a parallel Tamriel for his own amusement.

I laughed at that one, well played.

Just so you know, Legolas exists in The Elder Scrolls. He might well be in the form of a Khajit, but he exists nonetheless. I saw him with my own eyes standing on dock either at the roost or Auridon. Can't remember, but I followed him and I made damn sure I could get a screen shot.

I've seen enough names like Captain Thunderpants and <insert your double entendre here> to know that those who enjoy RP will be having a tough time at the moment, all I can say is, thank the nine you aren't playing console as I see console being only more of the same.

Yes, there was talk of that like minded player business, where people 'like' you would be grouped or instanced around you, however I believe that Idea was scrapped very early on. I don't remember as to why this was idea was scrapped, there was some talk of it being very complex and perhaps to difficult, and the old forum that discussed it in length is now gone.

I'd submit a message to ZOS about it, just don't expect an answer anytime soon as there seems to be an abnormally large amount of people that can't read clear instructions and are thus having login issues, or account issues so anything you get back from ZOS about those kinds of questions will be a long time coming back to you. As an example, there was one person in the support part of the forum going mental because he had been entering in his game code for two days now and it still won't except it. Turns out he was using his explorers pack game code and not the actual game code. It pays to read the fine print.

For what it's worth, I've found the urge's of being swept up in a moment in this game overpower my RP character, and more often than not I'm struggling with keeping my RP identity and story going. ESO has been hard for me to seriously RP, funny thing is I don't see this now as an RP game. I think it's more than that, if that makes sense. I think it's taken RP to another level, but then it's what you make of it I guess.

Isidor

kijima wrote: »

*snip*

(your post is long and just above this one so I cut it)

Thanks for an insightful post.

That the system I'm asking for would have been too complex to be put into the game sounds reasonable. I suppose I just have to hope they pick up those plans again so it may become a reality in the future.

Aureli

Well, The Secret World has an active and lively community of roleplayers. It's great, but super annoying as well because on some servers folks won't answer a direct question unless you "roleplay" it.

Given the clunky chat (i.e. you need to type out all chat emotes, no macros or shortcuts there), the very early stage the game is still in, in terms of player base development and additional tools, there hasn't been much to help out the would-be roleplayers.
Rastafariel suggested your only real recourse at this point in time, find an RP focused guild and run with them.

mark.markandb16_ESO

Ragnar_Lodbrok wrote: »

90% of games have no RP servers. The 10% that did have since closed them. Yes lets make individual dead servers to appease a small population.

Utter BS

Hmmm....Everquest 2.....Antonia Bayle RP server....Been the most populated server since launch.

Nuff said

Sarenia

In all fairness, even RP servers don't have much more RP than non-RP servers in games.

I played Antonia Bayle on EQ2. Yes, there were RP guilds, but most people still didn't RP.

They've built this game to encourage RP and immersion, but you can't force a horse to drink after you've led it to water.

What you should be looking for is RP guilds.

Allumis

I abandoned RP after my first three days in the early access, people simply weren't interested in joining in with me.
Hopefully they look at ways of allowing a better RP community to thrive within the game but I don't see it being a high priority right now.

Thybrinena

The best RP server these days ia an RP guild. Try find a very active one and then just turn your /zone chat off (others too if you want. There really isn't much of an market for RP market today from what I can see, but that doesn't mean that they're not important.

KerinKor

Clearly RPing on a single region-wide server isn't going to happen in a way that makes RPers, for example there can't be a naming rule that will be okay for RPers that can possibly be enforced across hundreds of thousands, and public chat channels can't possibly be restricted in the way other games do their RP servers.

I'm not an RPer but I can see that ESO in particular, given the 'franchise' (I hate that word but hopefully you get what I mean) would attract some serious RPing and it's sad that it's one of the MMOs least likely to provide a satisfying RP environment.

Mie87

The official rp server in lotro was pretty crowded and awesome. I would have loved the same thing here.

Elvent

Ragnar_Lodbrok wrote: »

90% of games have no RP servers. The 10% that did have since closed them. Yes lets make individual dead servers to appease a small population.

Why make up stupid lies like this? It makes you look silly...

KerinKor

Mie87 wrote: »

The official rp server in lotro was pretty crowded and awesome. I would have loved the same thing here.

An interesting aspect of that is that the RP server was an EU thing only, implemented by Codemasters. Turbine in the US never had one and refused to establish one, until they migrated the EU system off Codemasters back in 2010 (or whenever that sad event occurred).

Vikova

In many games that don't have dedicated RP servers, over time certain locations become "common roleplaying" spots. It is likely the same will happen here. An out of the way building with minimal NPCs, etc. A cool campsite in the middle of nowhere.

mark.markandb16_ESO

Necessity is the mother of all invention

or

Build it and they will come.

Hmm...now I'm confused

Either way if there is sufficient demand...it will happen

Vikova

mark.markandb16_ESO wrote: »

Necessity is the mother of all invention

or

Build it and they will come.

Hmm...now I'm confused

Either way if there is sufficient demand...it will happen

Its keeping it going once its build that is the hard part.

Korah_Eaglecry

Im in an RP guild with 60 other people. And its growing every day. We've even located one or two locations in our Alliance that act as 'Guild Houses'. Places we can go to that are generally quiet, large enough for everyone and has the kind of feel needed for the setting.

Rastafariel

I lead an RP Guild of about 50 people. We expect to continue growing. I would suggest the only thing to do now is join a good RP guild and get as many RP friends on your friends list as possible, to that the shard magic places you with other RPers as much as possible.

thedemiseraphb14_ESO

I do know Zeni has mentioned more than once that they are planning to add more features and functations for RP'ers, lots of this game will grow past launch.

Kolache

I think it'd be cool if they added an option to toggle for RP/not that would give people an affinity for a certain instance in each zone. Not a hard rule, just a slight nudge to help like-minded people gather when/where possible.